Matthew 17:9……Working

Matthew 17:9……Working

17:9 As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus instructed (ordered-(Mark 9:9) them, “Don’t tell anyone what you have seen, (i.e. Jesus’ transfiguration.) until the Son of Man has been raised  from the dead.” (They kept the matter to themselves, discussing what “rising from the dead” meant.-(Mark 9:10)

Continued From Book

“Teaches how visions and mountaintop experiences are nice, but are no substitute for faith in the Word.” ⇒ “Mountain” experiences, “religious” experiences, “aesthetic” experiences, “vision”, etc. Are gifts that are given to us at the moment. But they cannot substitute for the Word. As nice as visions and spiritual experiences are they don’t define our relationship with God. Such visions or experiences do not really produce faith. They may and should strengthen faith, but not necessarily or automatically so. The three disciples in this account do not seem to have had any noticeable change in their ability to put faith in Jesus after this vision. In fact, it was only after Jesus’ resurrection that they understood what they experienced and only then could they even talk about it. In fact, spiritual experiences barely offer a glimpse of the intimacy that can only be built and developed through years of trials, struggles and frustrating silences. The truth is that trying to build a relationship with Jesus on only amazing experiences is like trying to float in a pool on a piece of cardboard. A real, authentic relationship with Jesus is built on Scripture by allowing God’s truth to build and define our character. This draws us into a deeper and richer knowledge of Him as we walk our day-to-day lives in step with His will. Bright lights, inspiring music, trendy speakers, attention-grabbing multimedia — or whatever, may bring spiritual and emotional excitement at the time — but it will never produce in us an authentic, persevering love for God. If our hope remains only in these experiences, we are headed for disappointment every time. If we believe that intense emotional experiences are meant to be the substance of our relationship with God, we rob ourselves of encountering the depth of the only connection that will ever truly satisfy the deep longing within of a personal relationship with God. This is not to say that spiritual experience does have a purpose. Spiritual experiences will continue to play a significant role in your journey, but we need to realize very quickly that they alone are not enough. They don’t define our relationship with God. In fact, they barely offer a glimpse of the intimacy that can only be built and developed through years of trials, frustrating silences,and that purpose is to stir our affections for Jesus. To ignite a hunger, passion, greater love and devotion to Him. One may ask what happens if the experience doesn’t produce anything — no hunger, no passion, no emotion, no spiritual enlightening? Fear, doubt, and uncertainty can creep in as we start to wonder, “Did Jesus really enter my heart if I don’t feel His presence today?” Emotions are part of our human nature. However, they are not always to be trusted and, sometimes, they even need to be scolded! As we submit to God, our emotions can be a beautiful gift, but they are by no means a measuring stick of what is true or real. How we feel is not always an indication of what God is doing. The challenge is to allow experiences to change us and encourage us to go deeper and discover new intimacy with God. However, to do so, we must keep standing firm on a foundation of truth which will never be shaken or altered by feelings or a lack thereof. We must often choose to believe, despite conflicting emotions. This is why it is so important to base not only your Salvation but all aspects of your Christian walk and relationship with Jesus on what Scripture says about you rather than what you feel about yourself. The only one who can speak absolute truth into and over your life is your Heavenly Father. If you’ve made the decision to turn away from your sin and to follow Jesus, then you are His and He is yours. If you spend your whole life jumping from one emotional high to another, believing that it will keep you in tune with God or keep you in relationship with Him, know it is not enough.

“Calls for trusting in what the Lord has chosen and decided, whether we understand it or not.” ⇒ We need to realize that spiritual experiences are sometimes meant to be just between us and the Lord. Spiritual experiences can be a way for people to connect with God and can be a significant part of a Christian’s spiritual life. Whether its seeing visions, hearing God’s voice, or feeling a sense of peace and joy. It’s important to hold onto the experience as an important part of your walk with God and lean on those experiences during difficult times. Spiritual visions and experiences are by nature private matters, meant to strengthen your faith and not to be paraded around.

“Teaches how sometimes what isn’t understand in the moment is better understood and shared down the road” ⇒ The Lord leads us, not only in experiences that will make better sense later. But also instructions that He knows we will have a better grasp on later and a better tool to witness with. We’ve all had experiences at some point of our life of going through something didn’t seem to make any sense to us at all at the time. But then when you get further down the road and you look back and see the astounding wisdom of our Savior. Whatever your going through know that Jesus had lead you there, even though you couldn’t understand it at the time. Know that whatever your going through today see it as a spiritual investment. Will you enlarge your perspective and trust in the wisdom of your Savior Jesus that He knows what’s best. That there is never a purposeless thing we go through that does not extend into a future benefit.

“Calls for seeing that we’re leading people to Christ for the right reason, and not for signs and wonders.” ⇒ Will you pray O Father, help me share Jesus properly with others. I want my friends and loved ones to know of His Saving grace, His awesome power, and His ultimate triumph over sin and death. Help me know how and when to share these things. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

“Even today, we need to see that we’re coming to Jesus by a heart conviction of faith and not by some spiritual experience or divine revelation that may or may not come.” ⇒ We need to apply the same principal that Paul lays out in Roman’s “That if the confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe if your hearts that God has raised Him from the dead you will be Saved.”-(Rom. 10:9) Notice what Paul does not say. Paul does not ask, “What do you feel?” He gives no indication of the need for internal warm fuzzies, instantaneous change, or any emotional response because they are not requirements for being saved. Feelings aside, Paul asks first, “Have you declared Christ with your mouth?”, and secondly, “Do you believe with your heart that God is who He said He is, that Christ did what He did so you could be in relationship with Him?” If the answer is yes, then you can count on the fact that you are Saved.

Additional Notes & Applications

Where Jesus’ call for silence was for that time and place. The good news for us is that Jesus has been raised from the dead! That means we don’t have to be quiet anymore. We can tell everyone about Jesus.

Reasons for Jesus’ Call for Silence

• The resurrection would give the disciples a better testimony to declare to the people.

• Would cause a popular revolt in attempting to make Jesus a conquering king by force.

• The resurrection was to be the supreme witness of Jesus’ authority & Messiahship. (Matt. 12:39-40, 28:13, John 2:18-21)

• Jesus’ suffering would have shaken the faith of the disciples and quickly disillusion those who held Him to be divine.

• It would stir up jealousy among the other discipled, that Peter, James & John were entitled to special rights and privileges above the other disciples.